My name is Katie Tierney,       and I live in Traditions at Clover Ridge with my husband, Tom, and our four children. We have lived in Jonathan for almost 4 years, and were drawn to Jonathan because of the amenities and sense of community. We are lucky to have some of the most amazing neighbors, all of whom understand the value of a strong community.

Professionally, I am the Communications Manager for a Texas-based professional services startup, BSG Alliance. I ensure that our corporate vision is effectively communicated to our 175+ employees and external parties. Prior to joining BSG Alliance, I was the Marketing Director for a Twin Cities non-profit, the Volunteer Coordinator for a large mayoral campaign in Houston, Texas, and a software consultant for Sun Microsystems and BSG Alliance/IT. I bring technical savvy together with marketing expertise to get the right information to the right people at the right time.

I have a long history of volunteering my time and effort to make my community a better place. I have been attending the regular Board Meetings of the Jonathan Association for the past year. I am a past President and current Vice President of the Chaska MOMS Club (part of a national organization dedicated to supporting stay-at-home mothers). I work with The Church of the Guardian Angels in downtown Chaska to promote church activities through Twin Cities media outlets, and as a Faith Formation teacher. I volunteer weekly at Clover Ridge Elementary and Guardian Angels Catholic School. I am also a past president of the Minneapolis Alumnae Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta, which supports over 2500 Minneapolis-area women.

Why I Want to Serve:

Over the past several years, I have seen the Jonathan Association begin to decline. Our common property is being ignored, our sense of community is being undermined, and our dues are being spent on a lawsuit that is proving to benefit only a very small number of Jonathan Association members.

During the past 18 months, almost $100,000 of our money has been spent on litigation related to destroying Jonathan. If you were to divide that $100,000 among the 2476 homeowners in Jonathan, it would translate to 21% of each property owner’s dues. 21% of the dues paid by each and every one of my neighbors has been spent on destroying our community, rather than on making it a more inviting place to live. It’s time to put a stop to this kind of reckless behavior.

I have been active in the Jonathan Association for the past year. I helped plan the Annual 4th of July Bike Parade, and I volunteer on the Jonathan Association Communications committee. Jonathan is important to me. It is important to my family. It is important to my neighbors. And I want to preserve it.

When elected to the Jonathan Association Board of Directors, I pledge to do the following:

1. Cease litigation
2. Promote the concept of “One Jonathan,” bringing back vibrant community events and welcoming our new neighbors and friends.
3. Support an equitable distribution of resources, ensuring that a certain percentage of dues is used to directly benefit those areas from which the dues are collected.
4. Ensure that the common properties, including the trails, tot lots, ponds, sidewalks, and Lake Grace are maintained in excellent condition, and available for use by all Jonathan residents.
5. Uphold a level of professional conduct and decorum, and treat everyone who has business with the Board of Directors with respect and dignity.
6. Fairly represent all property owners in Jonathan by exercising restraint and common sense in financial decisions and prudently fulfilling my fiduciary duty to the members of the Jonathan Association.

My family and I call Jonathan home. I am seeking election to the Board of Directors because I truly believe in Henry McKnight’s vision for Jonathan: a place where people of all races, religions, and economic backgrounds can live and work together and foster a sense of belonging and community.